Back-porch Laurel Canyon is the ethos in John Mayer's 1960s-style fifth album, down to the harmonies by David Crosby and Graham Nash on the title track. The lyrical, folk-rock channeling continues with "Queen of California" (which references Joni Mitchell and the Eagles), "Shadow Days," "If I Ever Get Around to Living," and "Whiskey, Whiskey, Whiskey."

"Mayer in full-on soul-searching mode…. [An] honest, and oftentimes compelling, statement on his road to redemption…. Mayer coproduced the album with Don Was, and together they coat the songs in a warm shee —from Greg Leisz's mercurial pedal steel on 'Queen of California' to the Americana glow of 'If I Ever Get Around to Living.'… It's the songwriting that reveals new facets of Mayer's talent. He sounds like a man reborn, and the transformation suits him."—Boston Globe